KENNY SHIELS last night went to war with Mick McCarthy over the sale of keeper Cammy Bell.

Kilmarnock manager Shiels said at his press conference last week that the Tractor Boys were interested in signing the Rugby Park keeper.

That saw Portman Road gaffer McCarthy launch a scathing attack on Shiels as he insisted he had no desire to recruit the Rangers target.

When quizzed on the Killie boss’s claims, the former Celtic defender said: “Do you want me to say it again? There’s no truth in it. Is lying too strong a word?

“I’ve not spoken to him and if somebody from this club has spoken to him they’ve done it without me saying so. If that’s the case then I’m going to be pretty cheesed.

“Does that clear that one up for you?”

That led to an angry response from Ulsterman Shiels last night as a bitter war of words broke out.

He said: “I’ve done nothing wrong and Mick is wrong.

“Ipswich Town haven’t spoken to me about Cammy Bell and I never said that they had – I just said that there was interest from Ipswich Town.

“Basically I got a phone call from an agent who said there was interest in Cammy Bell from Ipswich Town.

“Then at my press conference last week I was asked if Cammy was going to Rangers.

“I said I hadn’t been told he had and that apparently there was interest from Ipswich.

“I’m surprised Mick didn’t ring me to say, ‘What’s happening here because you’re saying we’re interested in your keeper and it’s not the case. I expected some sort of call but it didn’t come.

“I was just conveying a message to the press that I had taken a call from this agent.

“Agents ring me all the time about players. He said to me, ‘Has Cammy Bell signed for Rangers?’

“I just said he hadn’t signed to my knowledge and he said to tell Cammy to hold off as there was interest from an English club, Ipswich Town.

“When the press asked me I just told them the truth. Obviously I don’t want to lose the keeper so I didn’t phone Ipswich and ask if they were interested. I’ve got nothing to hide. Will I try to phone Mick? I don’t think I have to do anything.”